Land Rover fined for failing to assess health and safety risks
The vehicle manufacturer Land Rover has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fined more than £20,000 for failing to conduct a proper risk assessment for workers and equipment at one manufacturing plant.
An investigation of the Solihull Land Rover factors uncovered a number of safety issues. Firstly, a full and thorough risk assessment for workers using vibrating hand tools was not carried out by the vehicle manufacturing firm. Employees using these hand tools did so for an average of three hours a day, despite the fact that safety guidelines stipulate a maximum of one hour a day for safe use.
It was also revealed that in 2006, two cases of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) were reported. Had a proper risk assessment and health and safety training been carried out, employees would have been instructed in safely use the equipment and fewer medical problems may have arisen.
After being found liable for failing to conduct a proper risk assessment for working with vibrating hand tools, Land Rover was fined £20,000 as well as ordered to pay a huge £60,606 in court costs.